Missiological Implications of the Pizza Disaster

I just had one of those "this activity certainly isn't turning out the way I had planned, but will maybe make for an interesting blog entry " moments. Earlier this evening I brought back a Hawaiian pizza from the city to share as an expression of friendship with two neighboring families. I called ahead so they knew the pizza was coming, although I encouraged them to eat something first as I'd be coming a little later and there might not be enough to fill everybody up.

The reason I thought of pizza is because of my neighbors has a brother who briefly had a pizza business years ago. By way of background, pizza long has been readily available at urban outlets such as Dominos and Pizza Hut here in Taiwan, at least longer than the 10 years I've been here.  But like movie theaters, pizza just hasn't trickled out to the countryside. Speaking of movies, last fall I tried to start a movie night, thinking that showing quality family-friendly movies might be a practical way of serving the community and gradually introducing Christ, since the closest movie theater is 45 minutes from here. Well, the movie idea didn't get anywhere with my immediate neighbors. One acquaintance from not too far away in his early 30's told me this past week he's only been to a handful of movies in his life.

Well, as you might be able to guess by now, the few who came over for pizza politely ate a few bites, but when pressed to eat more, insisted they were already full. Colloquial English translation: "Yuck! We're not used to eating this!" Just like I occasionally observe back in the States, I'm reminded again that not anyone is able or willing to step across cultural boundaries to live in a manner foreign to their upbringing. On a far more amazing level, nor were any of us able to cross the divide into the infinite magnitude of God's presence. So Christ voluntarily stepped out of time and into our world of limitation, bearing our suffering and shame.

With regard to the pending missiological question of how to most effectively share about what this God has done in Christ to my non-pizza eating, movie-going friends, tonight's debacle bears at least two conclusions worth noting:

1) Beyond simple open-houses to let people see what a foreigner's house looks like from time to time, it's probably not a good idea to attempt many more activities based upon western, urban activities, holidays, or interests (this is a bit of a no-brainer). These are most likely doomed to fail!

2) Some have recently re-emphasized the connection between idol worship, particularly that of the goddess Matsu, and spiritual opposition to Christianity in this area, one of the least-reached areas in all of Taiwan. I agree somewhat there is a spiritual connection and so was moved myself two years ago to stump for  the town with the famous "Matsu" temple here to be the hub for our new church planting efforts. HOWEVER, it's possible to overstate this. Perhaps just as significant is the anthropological observation that, being agriculturally-based, this area is very, very conservative and resistant to any change or outward influence of ANY kind, NOT just with regard to spiritual things. To make a long story short, in this traditional society, the same neighbors who don't go for pizza or watching movies aren't going to fall for what they perceive to be a foreign religion. Christ must be experienced in forms and activities which are entirely comfortable and indigenous for the working-class farmers and others who call this place home. May God's Spirit show the way.

Two Instances of Divine Protection

Rarely a day goes by when I don't thank the Lord for protection while driving either a car or scooter here. Monday afternoon I was just a pedestrian though.

After the conclusion of Taiwanese 2nd language study, I wait at the intersection in front of the crosswalk for the light to turn red. I make my way across the street. A delivery truck madly makes a  left turn and comes bounding toward me. In a split section I jump out the way, missing being hit by the absolute narrowest of margins! Had I been slower due to age or infirmity, a mother with a stroller, or been looking the other way, it would have been over. Looking back in anger, amazement, and relief, I see the driver only has one hand on the steering wheel.

An hour later, I'm driving myself. Making a left in town as absolutely no cars are coming from the other direction (there is no light here), a vehicle suddenly and rapidly accelerates from the curb diagonally across. He obviously hasn't looked for oncoming traffic. I narrowly miss him as I slam on the brakes. It's one of those slow-motion moments when I feel that God in his amazing design of the human body has sharpened and intensified our reflexes.This near-incident, though probably not life-threatening, would surely have decimated the mission vehicle I was driving.

In both instances, I initially feel a fleeting moment of anger at the way so many people seem to drive here with utter disregard for the safety or lives of others. During a recent lesson on driving in my Taiwanese textbook written 30 some years ago, my instructor comments that things are actually better now! However, within milliseconds anger quickly melts into a feeling gratitude and a prayer of thanksgiving:

I lift up my eyes to the hills-- from where will my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore. Psalm 121

Taiwan is different than Thailand!

When visiting the United States, my coworkers and I here frequently come across people who confuse Taiwan with Thailand. Sadly, Americans' knowledge of world geography can be very "USA-centric". I even noticed some of my facebook acquaintances joining a group called "Taiwan is not Thailand." 

I couldn't believe it when today I discovered the U.S. post office had committed the same error. Let's all do a better job studying world geography, shall we?  (I know there are other areas I'm still fuzzy about).

Yet Another Bird Purchase...

If you've followed this blog any the last few months, you read about the first baby sunbird and lovebird I bought here in southcentral Taiwan that bit the dust, as well as the second adult lovebird which flew away. You've also read about the Indian Ringneck and yellow lovebird, which are still doing fine. The latter is especially tame and I let it out most days, although it's starting to play a little rough.

Yesterday I set out to buy a partner for it, but instead of another baby lovebird wound up with another exotic bird, in Chinese called a sunbird (In English it's a cockatiel). Anyway, it's another relatively cheap acquisition, less than $20 US over here. I've still spoon-feeding it, but expect it to make the transition to self-feeding quickly since it can already fly a little. With the weather so cold, I hope it doesn't get a bad cold and croak. 

Mr. Ding's Latest Presidential Creations

In two earlier posts  here and here I introduced my neighbor and friend Mr. Ding the sculptor. Here I am holding some of his recent work, including Taiwanese Pitcher Wang Jian-Ming, who plays for the New York Yankees.

  Some weeks ago Mr. Ding let me in on his latest secret but swore me to secrecy until the proper time. Now it's OK for me to let the cat out of the bag since last week two or three papers published his story. Here's one of several newspaper articles. But in case you don't read Chinese...

With Taiwan's next presidential election coming up in March, Mr. Ding had the idea to sculpt the likenesses of the two candidates, Ma Ying-Jeou from the KMT and  Frank Hsieh from the DPP. Aren't they cute?

Last but not least here's one of the many garlics Mr. Ding has sculpted the last few weeks. Note: None of these images are for sale, particularly the presidential candidates or Wang Jian-Ming, as they're some sort of copyrights involved. Be sure to click on the video at the end of this post!